AnkaraJuly 28, 1402Strategic Context

The clash between the Timurid and Ottoman Empires is somewhat inevitable in the early 1400s. Tamerlane’s Tatars conquer Syria and Iraq while Bayezid I’s Ottomans conquer eastern Anatolia. When Tamerlane invades eastern Anatolia in early summer 1402, Bayezid breaks off his siege of Constantinople and marches east to face him. Along the way, he abandons a strong position at Ankara only for the Timurid army to vanish. Tamerlane completely evades Bayezid to reappear in behind the Ottoman army at Ankara. Bayezid marches his exhausted army west to meet the Timurid invaders. Tamerlane diverts the Cubuk Creek north and destroys all the wells around Ankara while he awaits his opponent; the Ottomans arrive at Ankara to find deceivingly sufficient fresh water.

Stakes+ A Tatar victory would force the Ottoman Empire to abandon any immediate campaigns directed against Byzantium.

+.An Ottoman victory would strengthen the Empire as a whole and eliminate the Tatar threat to western lands.

By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

Ankara, 1402Strength

Timurids

Well

Ottomans

ExhaustedDehydrated

Tamerlane

80,000 100,000

Bayezid I

By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

32 war elephants

Timurids(Tamerlane)

Ottomans(Bayezid)

Tamerlane anchors his line on two safe flanks: a river and a height. He places his war elephants in front of his infantry in the center, flanked by cavalry with a vanguard of cavalry for each wing. Tamerlane holds a cavalry force back as a reserve. Bayezid deploys his army in a crescent formation, designed to envelop the Timurid force. Bayezid centers his position around his elite Janissaries which are firmly entrenched. They are flanked by infantry and backed by cavalry, the wings consisting of strong cavalry forces. The Ottomans’ fresh water sources suddenly dry up because of Tamerlane’s diversion of the Cubuk Creek and well sabotage.

Bayezid orders his two wings to attack the opposing Timurid wings. On the Ottoman right wing, Tamerlane uses a barrage of arrows and naphtha fireballs to disorder the Ottoman attack; it is then charged by the Timurid left wing. Meanwhile, the Ottoman left wing succeeds in engaging the Timurid right wing with an initially stout attack.

The attack on the Timurid right wing is fierce but is an afterthought when the Black Tartar cavalry, serving on the Ottoman rear left wing, betray Bayezid. The Ottoman left wing ceases to exist while the right wing is counterattacked by Tamerlane’s left wing, reinforced by his reserve. The Ottoman right wing is routed, leaving Bayezid with only his center forces.

Tamerlane launches an attack with his center and envelops the Ottoman position with his cavalry wings. Bayezid’s infantry flee but the majority of his cavalry stay to assist the determined Janissaries which are nearly surrounded.

The Timurid cavalry wings defeat their counterparts and completely surround the Janissary position. Tamerlane’s war elephants and infantry break through the Janissary entrenchment, forcing them to withdraw. Their withdrawal is blocked by Timurid cavalry. Bayezid and his elite formation fight on but – attacked on all sides – must surrender.

Ottomans(Bayezid I)100,000

NN

Timurids(Tamerlane)80,000

Ankara, 1402Casualties & Aftermath

Timurids: Ottomans:

15,000

or

13%

40,000

or

40%

By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

Tamerlane refused to ransom Bayezid after the battle, preferring to humiliate him until his death in 1403. Tamerlane planned an invasion of China thereafter but died before he could realize his ambition. Meanwhile, the Ottoman Empire was left to be bickered over by Bayezid’s sons until a central authority emerged to regain control.

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps

http://www.theartofbattle.com

By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©